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Dec. 17, 2008

Tennessee's Eric Berry capped a near-perfect individual season with a near-perfect postseason Wednesday when he was named to the 2008 Sporting News All-America squad.

The sophomore defensive back earned first-team honors from all five NCAA-recognized All-America outlets -- American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press and Sporting News -- becoming the first Tennessee player to claim unanimous mention since offensive lineman Antone Davis in 1990.

Berry was one of just nine players nationally to make all five first teams, with four of those residing in the Southeastern Conference. Joining Berry within the league were offensive linemen Andre Smith of Alabama and Michael Oher of Mississippi, and linebacker Brandon Spikes of Florida. Other unanimous choices nationally were wide receiver Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech, running back Shonn Greene of Iowa, defensive lineman Brian Orakpo of Texas, linebacker Ray Maualuga of Southern California and placekicker Louie Sakoda of Utah.

Berry's combination of strength and skill helped him finish with a nation's-best seven interceptions for 265 return yards, while adding 72 tackles to finish third on the Tennessee team and 18th among SEC leaders. For his career in just 25 games, Berry owns 12 interceptions for 487 return yards and three touchdowns. He enters next season just 14 yards shy of the major college career record of 501 interception return yards set by Florida State's Terrell Buckley from 1989-91.

Eleven previous Vols have earned unanimous All-America honors: Bob Suffridge (1940), Hank Lauricella (1951), Johnny Majors (1956), Bob Johnson (1967), Charles Rosenfelder (1968), Steve Kiner (1969), Chip Kell (1970), Bobby Majors (1971), Reggie White (1983), Eric Still (1989) and Davis.

Berry in two seasons has broken interception return yardage records that had been on the books for a combined 187 years. He now owns records for a UT season (previously stood for 37 years), UT career (39 years), SEC season (52 years) and SEC career (59 years).

SPORTING NEWS ALL-AMERICA

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, Soph.
RB Shonn Greene, Iowa, Jr.
RB Donald Brown, Connecticut, Jr.
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Soph.
WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, Soph.
TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, Jr.
T Michael Oher, Mississippi, Sr.
G Duke Robinson, Oklahoma, Sr.
C Antoine Caldwell, Alabama, Sr.
G Brandon Carter, Texas Tech, Jr.
T Andre Smith, Alabama, Jr.
K Louie Sakoda, Utah, Sr.
KR Michael Ray Garvin, Florida State, Sr.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DE Brian Orakpo, Texas, Sr.
DT Terrence Cody, Alabama, Jr.
DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, Soph.
DE Jerry Hughes, TCU, Jr.
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida, Jr.
LB Rey Maualuga, Southern California, Sr.
LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Sr.
CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt, Jr.
CB Victor Harris, Virginia Tech, Sr.
S Eric Berry, Tennessee, Soph.
S Taylor Mays, Southern California, Jr.
P T.J. Conley, Idaho, Sr.
PR Brandon James, Florida, Jr.

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB Tim Tebow, Florida, Jr.
RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State, Sr.
RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State, Soph.
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri, Soph.
WR Austin Collie, Brigham Young, Jr.
TE Chase Coffman, Missouri, Sr.
OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia, Sr.
OT Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma, Sr.
G Seth Olsen, Iowa, Sr.
G Herman Johnson, LSU, Sr.
C Alex Mack, California, Sr.
K Graham Gano, Florida State, Sr.
KR Derrick Williams, Penn State, Sr.

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State, Soph.
DE Nick Reed, Oregon, Sr.
DT Peria Jerry, Mississippi, Sr.
DT Fili Moala, Southern California, Sr.
LB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh, Sr.
LB Brian Cushing, Southern California, Sr.
LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest, Sr.
CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, Sr.
CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Sr.
S Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech, Soph.
S Rashad Johnson, Alabama, Sr.
P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati, Sr.
PR Kyle Wilson, Boise State, Jr.